Sand aerator



May 9, 1933. F. T. SPIKERMAN SAND AERATOR Filed Aug. 9, 1950 INVENTOR.

n a Y, W 5 0% M k vm nw Patented May 9, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEFRANK T. SPIKERMAN, OF AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE OSBOItNMANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND", OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO SANDAERATOR Application filed August 9, 1930. Serial No. 474,280.

This invention relates to a device for scattering and aerating sand, andparticularly foundry sand which has been previously used. The aim of theinvention is to provide a simple and reliable device for throwing thesand through the air and subsequently mixing it, at the same timefreeing it from heavy particles such as pebbles and metal slugs.

It will be understood that the principles of my invention aresusceptible of application in various ways, but a preferred embodimentis shown in the single figure of the accompanying drawing.

In the figure a chute 1 is illustrated, having an adjustable spout 2 onthe end of which the sand is delivered to a rapidly rotating wheel 3placed in one end of a box 4, which is closed at top and ends, but openat the bottom.

A suitable form of wheel consists of a shaft 5 driven by any appropriatemeans (not shown) and carrying at each end a. disk 6. Square bars, suchas 7, are held at each end in the disks 6 and disposed axially about theperiphery, making a squirrel cage cylinder, which rotates in a clockwisedirection in the figure shown, thus throwing the sand and foreign matterupwards and to the right as indicated.

As will be readily understood, the heavy particles follow the highestpath, generally indicated at A, while the medium, light, and very lightsand tend to separate into success ively lower streams, generallyindicated by 5 the characters B, C and D, respectively.

The heavy particles are thrown to the far end of the box 4 and therefall into a trough 8 from the bottom of which they are removed by aconveyor 9 of any convenient form.

The streams of sand B and part of the streams C impinge upon a blademember 10 just forward of the trough 8 and fall from there down onto aconveyor 11 beneath the box 4, this conveyor being preferably of thetype having cross blades 12 attached to a moving chain 13. In order toprevent damp sand from clinging to the wall 10, this wall is forwardlyinclined at the top and furthermore, is pivoted as at 14 near the middleand counterweighted as at 15 to tend to hold the upper end against astop 16. A projection 17 on the lower end intersects the path of thecross blades 12 so that each cross blade tilts the wall 10 in acounter-clockwise direction and the counterweight 15 returns it sharplyof sand, and particularly the lighter grades,

such as the stream D, a series of vertical baiiles 18 are placedtransversely in the bottom of the box 4 immediately above the conveyor11. Each of these baflles 18, being in the zone of the lightestparticles D, gives a dead air space at the side away from the wheel, inwhich space the light particles, sheltered from the air currents, settleand fall through onto the conveyor 11. In this manner the sand which isthrown forward by the squirrel cage 3 is very thoroughly agitated, airedand mixed, while the en trained heavy matter is thrown out.

Although I have herein described a particular form of applying theprinciples of" my invention, it will be understood that I do not limitmyself thereto, but that the scope of the invention is as indicated bythe appended claims.

What I claim is 1. In a device of the class described comprising adischarge chute and means adjacent the end of said chute for throwingmaterial received therefrom, means for receiving thrown materialcomprising a recepta A cle for the heaviest grade of said material, saidreceptacle being furthest removed from said throwing means, a wall forlimiting the travel of other grades of said material,

a conveyor beneath the path of said other grades of material, a pivotsupporting said wall, a stop for limiting the travel of said wall in onedirection, a counterweight for urging said wall against said stop, and aprojection upon said wall, elements upon said conveyor adapted to strikesaid projection, thereby moving said wall away from said stop.

2. In. apparatus for conditioning granular material, in combination, asupply chute,

a bladed rotatable element beneath said supply chute, a series of deadair spaces provided by baflle plates successively disposed laterally ofsaid rotatable element, a movable Wall above and behind said dead airspaces and saidwall, and cooperating elements' on said conveying meansand said wall for vibrating said wall.

Signed by me this 5th day of August, 1930.

FRANK T. SPIKERMAN.

